Hudson to transform retail at Boston Logan airport with 16 new stores
Hudson is expanding in Boston in a big way.
In a newly awarded contract, the travel retailer will expand its footprint in Boston Logan International Airport (BOS) to debut a locally-inspired, globally-relevant concessions portfolio consisting of eight new duty-paid and eight duty-free stores in 2023 and 2024.
The expansion, which will sprawl across 23,000 sq. ft. of retail space, builds on Hudson’s existing presence in BOS, where the company has an expansive portfolio of travel convenience, specialty retail, and quick-serve food & beverage concepts in the airport’s four terminals.
As part of the new expansion, Terminals A, B, and C will have a duty-free store where both domestic and international travelers can shop.
Terminal E, which is only for international travelers, will offer five distinctive duty-free shops including an immersive, 11,000-sq.ft. “walk-through” store. The new offerings will include three boutique-inspired shops, similar to those on Boston’s iconic Newbury Street, which will be spread out throughout the terminal. One store will be devoted exclusively to luxury skincare and cosmetics, while another will feature the classic duty-free offerings of international liquor, fine wines, spirits, and tobacco.
The third store will be devoted to makeup, haircare, and skincare brands along with premium eyewear, confections, and local souvenirs. The offerings will include a virtual try-on for sunglasses, a wellness shop-in-shop, and a “haute perfumery” space dedicated to prestigious fragrance houses.
The walk-through concept – a mixed-used space designed to heighten and excite the senses, Hudson said — will complement the duty-free stores. Four shopping zones inspired by two of Boston’s most iconic neighborhoods — Back Bay and Jamaica Plain — will make up the interior.
Every detail of the walk-through concept was chosen with intention, according to Hudson, from the entrance gateways mirroring the local, cable-stayed Zakim Memorial Bridge to the use of artistic renditions of tree canopies as a tribute to the Emerald Necklace of green spaces found throughout Boston. An inlaid floor feature will serve as a wayfinder, guiding travelers through different shopping zones similar to Boston’s famed Freedom Trail.
Four shopping zones will make up the store’s interior, inspired by two of Boston’s most iconic neighborhoods: Back Bay and Jamaica Plain.
Hudson is a partner of The Massachusetts Port Authority (Massport) and MarketPlace Development.
“The duty-paid extension and new duty-free contract reflect the shared commitment of Hudson, Massport, and MarketPlace Development to elevate the travel experience and create a concessions portfolio that is not only tailored to the diverse passenger profile of each Terminal but also reflects the rich culture and history of the city,” said Brian Quinn, executive VP and deputy CEO of Hudson. “Our new stores will showcase Hudson’s ability to offer unique shopping experiences while setting the standard for the future of travel retail.”
With offerings across travel convenience, specialty retail, and F&B, Hudson’s new duty paid stores will showcase a broad assortment of best-in-class brands, innovative technology, and local influence – a true love letter to the historic city of Boston, the company said.
“Offering passengers innovative and engaging experiences while shopping iconic and local favorites continues to be very important to us here at Boston Logan,” said Michael DiCosola, president, MarketPlace Development. “We are excited to see that Hudson has the ability to offer these unique retail options, making the airport experience even more enjoyable for the passenger throughout their travel journey.”
In the new stores, and throughout Hudson’s existing operations at BOS, travelers will have such frictionless payment options as self-checkout and mobile POS, along with pre-ordering for duty-free through Reserve & Collect, exclusive benefits and savings with the company’s loyalty program, and/or other cutting-edge technology innovations.
The new stores will be operated in partnership with Hudson’s longstanding Airport Concessions Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (ACDBE) Partners in BOS: Branded Works Inc., KELLEE Communications Group, Inc., NIA Corporation, and Saxon Ventures LLC.
Hudson, a Dunfey Company, has more than 1,000 stores in airports, commuter hubs, landmarks, and tourist locations.